Street-sweeping machine.



" T. Hi DISERENS.

' STREET SWEBPING MACHINE. APPLIGATIGN FILED MAlLz 1911.

T.' H. DISERENS. STREET -svwmmmV MACHINE.

4 APPLIGATION FILED MAR.24, 1911. 1,017 1,301. ,Patented Aug. 26, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WWNESSES:

INVENTOR W ATTORNEY vT. H. DISBRENS. STREET BWBBPING MACHINE. APPLIGATION FILED 11111.24, 1911.

Patented Aug. 26, 1913.

INVENIOR v ,/Z/sefe/l ATTORNEY T.H.DSERENS STREET SWEEPNG MACHINE. APrLoATloN FILED MAR 24 xelL yg e' Patented Aug. 26, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4..

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F IULLAS, TEXAS, SSIGNQE. 05?' @NE-HALF T0 JAMES C. GARNER,KVOF BJRAIWVNETO63D,` TEXS.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 26,1913..

.application filed March 24v, 1911i. Serai No. 616,630.

To all 'whom i may concern.'

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. Disniznus, a citizen of the United States, residing all; Dallas, in the county of Dallas-and State of Texas,.have invented certain new and useful yImprovements in Streeteweeping Machines, of which' the following is a speciiication This invention pertains to improvements in street sweeping machines.

l Thel object of the invention isto provide what may4 be termed a dustless street .sweeping machine and one which includes a combined vacuum and pressure mechanism actin'g in conjunction Witlconveyers whereby the svveepings4 ,are taken up and distributed the following manner: the vheavy particles being delivered to conveyers which carry. the saine to a closed receptacle, the' lighter. particles being carried toa separator where said particles are removed from the air current and delivered to one of the conveyersgthc vdust laden aircurrent passing from-the separator to a purifying-tank and then through a drying druin from which the air current 'passes to the exhaust nozzle. i

Further features reside inthe provision of a revolving cylindrical brush; vmechanism vtoiadjusting the brush; mechanism for adjusting the frame of the machine; "mechanisin for preventing the air current passing` from the separator to the conveyer withthe 4lighter particles; a revolving gutter brush; a device for raising the gutter brush, and mechanism for conveyingthe sweepings of the gutter brush to the separator.

vi 4stilll further object ofthe invention is tc provide a device of this character that iwill be strong, durable, efficient and simple and dcomparatively inexpensive to construct,

also one inwhich the several parts will not be likely to getoutof working order.'

lith the above and other objects in view the invention has relation to certain novel features of construction and operation, an

example of which is described in the followdriving gears, Fig. 5 is a detail of the drivingmechanism betweenthe bucket conVeyer-- `and the screw conveyei, Fig; 6 is a detail in section of the separator valve, `Fig. Tis a rear elevation'of the machine, Fig. 8 is a detail in sect-ion .taken onthe line s-s of and showing one ofthe trash box fastenings, Fig. 9is a detail'iii section show ingone-:of the other fastenings used with ,the trash box, and Fig. .10 is a section on the line a-a of Fig. 9.

ln. the drawings the numeral 1 designates a' "frame which is preferably formed of metal in Aangle-iron form.' This frame has side beams 2. and 3 respectively, central beams 4, and cross beams 5, 6 and 7 respectively. At the forward end of the machine the side'beains are bent inward and secured to the central beams. The frame is mount ed onground wheels S and 9 respectively. As the connection between the wheels 8 and theframe is the same on both sides, a de scription of one'will suiiice for' both. The wheel. 8 is mounted to revolve on an axle or trunnion 10 extending laterally outward from` a vertical slide bar 11 having gear teeth on its rear edge. The forward edge of the slide bar engages inthe channel of a .keeper 12 secured to the adjacent side beam.

This keeper `holds the bar a short distance vfrom the be'am as is best shown in F ig. 2.

A shaft 14 extends transversely over the frame and a gear 15 fixed on the end thereof meshes with the teeth of the slide bar. arm 16 fixed on the shaft depends therefromand has 1connection at its lowerend with 'the 17 extending Aforward unf rear end of a link der the frame.

Near the forward end of the frame a rock Shaft 19 is mounted thereon and has a depending arm 18 connected to the link 1T.

This shaft extends across the central bars -1' and a. lever lQO-is iixed on its end. This lever is provided with a plunger engaging a segmental rack 2l. `It is apparent that by the connections described the shaft 14 is rocked when the lever is swung. y The rocking of the shaft 14 rotates the gears 15 -which ride up and down on the slide bars thereby raising or, lowering the rear portion of the frame.

The wheels 9 are set comparatively close together and are mounted on an inverted T- shaped support 22 which carries an annular versely under the frame,

ends of chains 'convey-'er to 'means the machine is guided from an operator"s seat 30 suitably supported on the frame adjacent the wheel 28 and. the lever.20.

Between the or brush 3l is wheels 8 a cylindrical broom located and extends transing devices permitting the brush to' project above the center ofthe wheels-ifne'ces'sary. A housing 32 incloses the brush except the lower portion thereo nions 33 which extend through vertical slots 34 of the sides of the housing as shown inA Fig. 7 Collars 35 are loosely confined on the trunnions and connected' to the'lower 36 which are employed in raising or lowering the brush as the case may be. These chains depend from Vthe free ends of levers 37 fixed on the ends of ahorizontal rock shaft 38 suitably hung from the frame. An -arm 39 extends upward from the said shaft and has connection with the rear end of a link40 connected at its forv ward end to the upper end of an arm 41 fixed on the end of a rock shaft 42 supported in the bars 4. 42 supports a lever 43 provided with a locking.v plunger engaging a segmental rack 44 secured`to one of the bars 4 as shown in Fig. 2. rI'his lever when swung raises and lowi ers the brush by means of the connections described.

Along the front side ofthe housing a horizontal trough' 45 is provided and closed atits ends by thel sides of the housing. In this trough Aa screw conveyer 46 is mounted. The heavv particles swept up by the brush fall into the trough and are carried by the the right hand end lwith' relation to Fig..3. Near that end the trough is'cut out and dtlieconveyer terminated to permit the passage of the buckets of an elevator 47 as shown in Fig. 1. The heavy particles are removedfrom the, trough and carried upward by the elevator which is' secured to the inner side of the beam 2. l

The elevator at its upper end has a laterdirected discharge spout extending down to the forward end of a longitudinal trough 48 supported over the beam. screwconveyer 4'9 is mounted in this trough and conveys the particles vdischarged by the elevaton rearward to a trash box 5() hung from the Vframe. A screw conveyer 51 ex.- tends across thebox from the rear end of the conveyer 4Q and at right angles thereto as shown inF 1g. 6. A is placed over the the' wheel support- 'fastened in place,v as' The brush has trunnut. when thel b ox is 'Fig 10).

`versely At its opposite end the shaft.

-'separator 6T andto occupy.

and forms part' of 'a covering s e filled. The cover 52 extends over'each side '70 of the box and projects under the .cross bars 7. To these projecting portions of the 'cover and on their-undersides, angle members 53 and v5 4 are secured as shown Figs. 8 and 9. A plurality of pairs of ears .55 depend from the member 3 ears an eye bolt 56 is Apivoted and arranged. to swing upward through a slot cut in the member 53, The free end of each bolt is threaded and each bolt receives a wing nut' 57 which is screwed down on the member 7 and the box is thus shown in Fig. 8.

of inverted bolts 58 are each shouldered and fastened` in the member 54 as shown inFig. 9. E ach bolt receives a which is screwed down onthe bar V7 to fasten the box in place. bolt 58'the bar 7 is cut out at 60 which provides a passage for the bolt and wing moved rearwardly (see Near the center of the frame a rotary fan 6l is suitably supported. From one side of the center of this fan a 'suction pipe 6 2 def pends and is' graduallvmerged into a nozzle 63l y flared laterally but contracted tra`nS- toward its lower' end. This inlet nozzle 63 extends transversely of the ma'- chine over the screw conveyer 46 Between said conveyer and the inlet end of the nozf zle a pair of horizontal corrugated or spiked rollers 64 are mounted in opposed'relation and so as to obstruct a portion of said inlet end. These rollers are revolved -so as lto tear up paper and the like and throwvit into the nozzle and' prevent trash fromA obstructing the ventrance to the nozzle.

It is apparent that lighter particles which do -not yfall into the conveyer 'trough 45 will be drawn into the nozzle 63 by the suction of the fan 6l. The particles drawn into the fan are ejected through a'tangential flue 65 which extends from the top of the fan casing. This flue is horizontal and. projects forward and to one side so as to discharge into the upper cylindrical lend-66 of a conical a .tangential relation to the same. The particles are carried around' the separator which owing to its conical shape and the whirling action of the air current deprives said. current of the heavier of Said particles which fall into a rotary valve 68 at the lower end ofthe sepa ratorr as shown in Fig. 6. This' valve-'acts to depositthe particles in a discharge tubevv 69, but prevents thelescape of the 'air current therethrou,f h. 'The tube G9 empties `into the elevator 4T as shown in Fig. 1. From the center of the separator a flue 70 At eachy extends upward. The lower end of the flue projects only a short distance into the conical portion 67 and after emerging from the separator saidliue is' arched and projects toward the center of the frame and at an angle forward, its forward endv entering one side of the dome of a purifyingtank 71.

or other liquid isplaced in the tank so as to cover all the partitions below 4the \discharge end of the tlue. All of the partitions are perforated. lt is to be'understood that the dustladen air current will be ejected from the :due 70 under considerable pressure and therope'nings 73 provide an unobstructed passage to the bottom of the tank except the obstruction offered by the water. The pressure will force the water upward in the tank through the perforationsof the partitions which serve to divide the water into a plurality of tine jets. It is obvious thatthe water will remove the dust from the air current and this .dust will deposit on the bcttomof the tank in the form of mud. At' one sideot the tank a clean-cut open ing and cover 7-lis provided through which the mud may be removed, however I wish to state -that the air current will convey very little dust' to the tank as most of it will `set tle in the separator.

At the center of the dome of the tank T1 a flue is secured. This liue is arched and extends downward and slightly rearward to the top of a drying drum 76. rThis drum is similarin shape to the separator and is lo- `cated on the opposite side of the frame.

The line extends from the drum in substantially tangential relation thereto and acts to conduct thea air current from the tank and lalso any water which may be forced out of the tank by the pressure of the vsaid current. Such y water upon entering the drum TG would fall to the bottom of the saine. A pipe T7 running from the bottoni of the drum to the bottom oi the tank maintainsfthe water at the same level in both. 1

An .exhaust flue T8 extends rom a point below the cjf'lindrical portion of the drum7 up through the top Vof the drum and rearwardly to the center of the frame at a point whirling around the drumv is deprived ol all moisture 'and passes out through the flue 78 to the exhaust nozzle.' The exhaust nozzle. is dared laterally and contracted transversely toward its lower end. nozzle has its lower portion at the rear-"of the housing32 and curved slightly forward so as to discharge under the\brush 31.'. The

-current of air thus discharged will assistl the brush in the sweeping operation andfde liver-ing the sweepings to the trough 45 .and nozzle'- 63.

' For the purpose of sweeping gutters ruid in close proximity to curbing l provide an auxiliary sweeper'. rlhis .sweeper comprises a comparatively short cylindrical brush or broom 8O which is suspended from the frame in front of the inlet nozzle 63 and on theside opposite to the elevator.

bell-crank lever 85, shown in Figs. l, 2 and' 3, is supported cn the inner side of the beam 3 and has a link 8G depending 'from its The brush is fixed on the Iend of a shaft 8l The hangers support the shalt 81,

horizontal memberwhich is pivoted at itsl lower end to one of the hangers. From the vertical member of the lever a *rod Si' en-` tends forward over the frame to an arn'i 8S mounted 'on a rock shaft 89 supported'V on the :frame as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. On

the opposite end of the rock shaft-a hand lever 90 is secured and swings against a seg- Imental rack 91, a plunger being provided on thedever and engaging with the rack to lock the parts in position. By means of the hand lever the shaft S9' may be rocked andthe brush raised or-lowered. Y

For removing the sweepings and dust from in front of the brush 80, a curved suction nozzle 92 is disposed in lfront of the brush and supported 'by an arm 93 project! ing from the adjacent hanger as shown in Fig. 3. The nozzle is contracted at its upper end and has connection with the lower end of al flexible pipe 9i which is connected at its upper end with a longitudinal pipe 95 mounted under the beam This pipe 95 extends rearwardly and is joined to another pipe 96 which extends upward and across the frame in fronty ot' the suction pipe ('52 into Vwhich said pipe 9G is turned. The matter entering" the suction nozzle 92 is drawn into th'e suction pipe (52 and the fan in rear ofthe tan. At this point the exhaust 61. lt will be noted that the brush S() exiiue is curved downward and 1s merged into i ten-ds laterallv bevond the ad accnt ground C n t,

au exhaust nozzle TS). The air currentiwhcelano l there are no projections to prelas ' outer side of vent .it from operating close to a curbing. It also overlaps the brush 31 and may be raised, when not inuse. A

For driving the machine and the various parts', a proper engine (not shown) is suitablyr supported on the frame in position to haveconnection with a gear or sprocket 9T fixed on a transverse drivey shaft 98 supported under the frame between the separator andthepurifying tank. This shaft extends on each side of the frame and has sprockets 99 fixed on its ends. Sprocket chains 100 pass about these sprockets and larger sprockets 101 secured to the ground wheels 8, thus driving Vthe machine forward.

V A-bearing .bracket 102 depends from the the beam 2 and carries a gear 104 which meshes with a gear 103 secured "on the drive shaft adjacentthe sprocket 99.

The gear 104 is fixed on the hub of a sprocket 105, the gears reversing the direction Y of rotation. This sprocket 105 receives a sprocket chain 106 which passes l* about a sprocket.107 mounted on one of the trunnions 33 of the brush 31- which is thus revolved ina directionl opposite to that of the ground wheels, but only. A sprocket" 108 (Fig. 3) is secured on the `drive shaft near the elevator and drives by means of a chain 109 a sprocket 110 secured on the upper shaft 111 of the elevator 47. The lower shaft 112 ofthe eleva driven from one end .j tor is extended outwardly (Figs. 3 and 5) meshes with a gear 'l parted to' the -with a, bevel gear and has fixed thereon a 'gear 114 which 115 secured on the Vextended endvof the shaft of the'screw conveyer 46. .Atl its opposite end the said con veyer shaftis extended and has fixed thereon la' sprocket 116 (Fig. 4) which drives by means of a chain 117 a sprocket 118 fixed on A the end of one of the rollers 64 and adjacent a pinion 1\19 (,Fig. 7) pinion v 120 fixed on which meshes with a the end of the other roller, said rollers thus Abeing revolved in opposite directions. Onl the uppe elevator shaft a second sprbcket'121'isfastened (Figs..2 and 3) and drivesloy means of a chain 122, a sprocket 123"connected to a bevel gear 124-meshing 125 secured on the forward'projecting -end ofthe shaft of the ,screwj' conveyer 49 #whereby motion is iinlatter. On the rear end of the conveyer shaft a bevel gear 126 is secured: and meshes ,with a similar gear' 127. A'spur gear 128 is fastened on the side of the-gear 127 andmeshes with a similar gear 129 fixed on the extended end of the shaft of the 'conveyer 51. v y [For driving the valve' 68 under the `separator, a sprocket 130 islsecured on the drive shaft 98 and drives by means of a chain 131 a sprocket 132 mounted on a shaft 1 33 suitably supported adjacent the said valve: 0n

land in front thereof, a

upper central portion of its opposite end the'shaft has a worm 134 i which meshes with a worm gear 135 secured to the shaft of the valve. y

For operating the 'fan 61, a sprocket 136 is fastened on the drive shaft 98 and drives by means of a chain 137, a sprocket 138 fixed on a counter shaft 139 suitably supported transversely of the frame under the drum 76 (Fig. 2). On thiscounter shaft a pulley 140 is fastened and drives by means of a belt 141 a pulley 142 secured on the projecting end of the shaft of the fan.

For driving the auxiliary brush 80 a sprocket 143 is fixed on the drive shaft -98 and drives by means of a chain 144 a sprocket 145 mounted onl a counter shaft 146 (Fig.` 2) which also carries a gear 147. This counter shaft 146 is supported by the bar 5. The gear 147 meshes with a gear 148 fixed on the counter shaft 84 and reverses the direction of motion. Midway between the hangers 82 a sprocket 149 is fixed on the counter shaft 84 and drives by means of a chain 150 a sprocket 151 secured on the brush shaft 81.

What I claim, is:

1. In a street sweeping machine, a rotary brush, a horizontal trough front of the brush longitudinally thereof, a housing inclosing the brush and connected to one edge of the trough, a screw conveyer mounted in the trough longitudinally thereof, and a suction nozzle having its entrance over the conveyer and extending substantially the entire length of said conveyer.

2.. In a street sweeping machine, brush, a horizontal trough supported in front ofthe brush longitudinally thereof, a housing inclosing the brush and connected to one edge of the trough, a screw conveyer mounted'in the trough longitudinally thereof, a suction nozzle having its entrance over the conveyer and extending substantially the entire length of said conveyer, said nozzle being extended laterally from its center, a suction pipe Aconnected to the nozzle, and a fan to which the suction pipe is connected.

3.111 a street sweeper, a rotary brush, a trough mounted longitudinally of the brush screw conveyer mounted in the trough, a nozzle extending longitudinally of the conveyer and contracted transverselyV toward its lower end,

an upright conveyer mounted at one end of the trough, a suction pipe connected tojthe the nozzle', and a suction fan having connection with the pipe.

4. In a street sweeper, a rotary brush, a trough mountedl longitudinally of the brush and in 'front thereof, a\ screw conveyer supported in y a rotary mounted in the trough, anozzle extending longitudinally ofthe conveyer and contracted transversely toward its lower end, an upright conveyer mounted at one end of the trough, a suction pipe connected to the 1 30 upper comi-:il portion ol' llw nozzle, n snction fun 'having connection with-the pipe` und u pair of Toughened rollers interposed between the lower und ot' the. nozzle und the screw eon'veyer und disposed longitudinally ofthe. screw (':onjreyeraiid the nozzle.

5 ln Va'street sweeping nnicliine. n trium,- n rotary brush, n trough arrunged infront of and longituil'ixnilly ofthe brush. :thousinginclosingthe brush und' t0 which the trough is attached, :i screw. conveyer mountedin the trough, a suction nozzle over the cfonveyerf having its entrance longitudinally of' the oonyeyer, a snotion'pipe extending from 'tl1e1'n ozzle,` a suction fan on the frame to which the pipe isconnected, a. separatorv mounted on 4the frame and having pipe conf nection With the fan, an air dischargenozzle mounted directly in rour of the brush, und nu nir discharge pipe lendingfrom the sepurutor to thedisclmrge nozzle, Y

G. lfn a street sweeper, the combination with a rotary brush, und :i suction nozzle, of n pair of rollers disposed longitudinally on euch side of 'the entrance end ot' the nozzle v:1n-d providedfwitli n plurality of peripheral projections, und lne-ans for-re lvoli-ing said rollersjn opposite directions.

In testimony whereof I have signedniy naine to this specification in the presence of twov subscribing,` Witnesses.

THOMAS H, DISEREXS.'

A i lVitnesses JACK A. SCHUH',

Z. M. DUCKWORTH. 

